Queen’s Own Highlanders Regimental Association
Edinburgh Branch
BRANCH NEWSLETTER – JULY 2008
Summer Dance 2008
The Branch’s Summer Dance was held at The Royal Navy Club in Edinburgh on Friday the 20th June 2008. This was the first time the branch has used this particular location and it turned out to be an ideal venue for our needs. The hall was a decent size for the 90 odd members and guests who attended the dance, the staff were extremely friendly and attentive, and the bar prices were very reasonable!
Our entertainment for the evening was provided by Mike Munro (no relation to Bobby Munro!) who got everyone dancing with his tribute to Neil Diamond and who proved to be a very talented and popular entertainer. However, the most notable point of the evening took place when Sandy Goodwin got up onto the stage to propose to his girlfriend, Linda! Thankfully she said yes and a bottle of champagne was presented to Sandy and Linda to mark the occasion.
As usual the event attracted our core pool of loyal Edinburgh-area members, as well as some from further afield. The new faces who turned up to support the branch and to introduce themselves back into the fold included Eddie Chorley (ex-B Company) and his wife who came through from Johnstone, Ray Findlay (ex – MT) and his wife from Aberlady, and Archie Gibson (ex OC Mortar Platoon) from Aberfeldy. All were made most welcome and promised to return for future gatherings. Photographs of branch members and guests at the dance can be viewed on www.cabarfeidh.com
Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The Branch AGM will take place at 1.30 pm on Sunday 28th September 2008 at the Scots Guards Club, 2 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh (opposite Haymarket railway station). Anyone who has items for the agenda should inform Danny Carruthers by the 20th September 2008.
The AGM will be followed by a curry and salad lunch for members and their families and will be paid for out of Branch funds. As we need to let the Scots Guards Club know how many to cater it would be appreciated if members who plan to attend let Danny Carruthers know as soon as they can
It would also be appreciated if members, who cannot attend the AGM and would like to pay their annual subscriptions, could fill in the proforma at the back of this newsletter and return it, together with a cheque or postal order, as soon as possible please. Members who attend on the day are asked to bring along the correct money to avoid the Treasurer having to find lots of change (annual subs are £15.00 for members under 65, and £10.00 for those aged 65 or more)
News from the Regimental AGM
The Regimental AGM was held in Nairn on Friday 18th July 2008 and the Branch was represented by George Givens and Danny Carruthers. The following items were discussed and will be fully reported on at our own AGM in September:
· The Northern Ireland Branch proposed holding a regimental gathering in Northern Ireland next year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Warren Point and to illustrate the large number of positive changes in Northern Ireland’s society over the past 15 years. Tim Lewis, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Branch, gave the following outline programme:
o Arrive and Buffet Meal at Ballykinlar (Friday 11th September 2009)
o Visit the Scottish Division Memorial at Palace Barracks, followed by a lunch, a tour of Belfast, a visit to Warren Point, and then Supper/drinks back at Ballykinlar (Saturday 12th September 2009)
o Hold a Memorial Service at St Martin’s in the Mournes, Ballykinlar, have lunch, and depart to airports or ferry terminals (Sunday 13th September 2009)
Members would have to make their own way to Larne, or one of the NI airports, but then transport would be provided for the remainder of the visit. The cost per head for transport and food is presently estimated at £150.00; however Tim intends to ask the Veterans Agency for a grant to help reduce this cost. The Northern Ireland Branch’s initial proposal was based on a “men only” plan and accommodation being provided at Ballykinlar Camp, however after discussion at the Regimental AGM, it was thought that some of the wives might also like to make the trip (accommodation would have to be booked separately, possibly in local B&Bs at an extra cost) The initial proposal might therefore have to be revised, however to help the Northern Ireland Branch assess whether their plan is viable or not they need an indication of the likely attendance. You are therefore asked to fill in a return at the back of this newsletter to show whether or not you are seriously interested in making this trip(returns back asp please)
· Lt Col (Ret’d) Bob Towns then proposed that a grand Regimental Gathering take place in Inverness and Fort George during the summer of 2011 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the formation of the Regiment. This was passed unanimously and Bob Towns volunteered to head the planning committee. It is too early to give out any details but it is envisaged that the week-end will take a similar format to the last very successful Regimental Re-union.
Brigadier Nick Ridley went on to brief the meeting about a call for assistance for Jennifer Squair (wife of Graham Squair, ex-QOHldr, and daughter of RSM Sandy Duffus). Jennifer is suffering from cancer and has been offered a new drug designed to help improve her quality of life. This situation is much better explained by Brigadier Nick’s briefing paper, which is attached to this newsletter. Please read it and give generously, as I am sure you all will. Attached is a Gift Aid Declaration Form to enable the Income Tax to be reclaimed for any individual making a personal donation towards the appeal to fund Jennifer’s medication needs (A £10 donation attracts a tax reclaim of £2.80, £25 attracts £7.00, £50 attracts £14.00 and so on). When completed the Form should be sent to Major Blincow at Cameron Barracks.
Branch Forecast of Events
Sunday 28th September 2008 Branch AGM/Curry Lunch Scots Guards Club
Friday 5th December 2008 Christmas Dance Royal Navy Club
News from Other Branches & Associations
– Highland Branch: Annual Barbeque – Sunday 31st August 2008 (please note change of date since the last newsletter). Dance on Saturday 15th November 2008. For further information contact David Terron on 01343 556128 or email dat@cabarfeidh.com)
– Friday 24th October 2008 Liverpool Scottish Annual Hot-Pot
– 23rd August 2008 Cameron’s Gathering in Inverness
– 19th September 2008 Highlanders Autumn Golf at Aboyne
Deaths
The Branch notes the sad news of the following recent deaths:
Col WG McHardy, MC, CVO, MBE – Former Commanding Officer of the Queen’s Own Highlanders
David Patience – Former Regimental Cook in Sharjah, Germany, and Northern Ireland
For the Latest News: You will find details of future events, lots of Regimental information, and photographs of Association members & functions on the Association web site at: www.cabarfeidh.com
Briefing Paper by Brigadier Nick Ridley: JENNIFER SQUAIR
Jennifer Squair (nee Duffus) has an incurable kidney cancer. One of her kidneys has been removed but the cancer remains in her bones and has spread to other places. The NHS has operated to remove the cancer; she has been treated with radiotherapy and given hormone treatment. The NHS are unable to treat her further. There is, however, a new drug called Sunitinib, which is proving successful at increasing the life of some patients with incurable kidney cancer. For those patients for which it is effective it will, on average, provide an extra year of quality life for them and in some cases prolong life even longer. However, it is expensive and the Scottish NHS has decided the benefits do not justify the expense. In England it is already available in some areas and a decision as to whether it will be available throughout England will be made in January.
Jennifer Squair is a patient of Dr MacDonald at Foresterhill in Aberdeen. He has said that if the drug were available on the NHS, he would most definitely and without hesitation prescribe it. It is ideally suited to treat someone such as Jennifer. The drug is administered in 6-week cycles. The first cycle is paid for by the drug company and the second by private insurance or the patient. The cost of a cycle is £3,500. At the end of the second cycle the patient is given another scan to determine whether the drug is having any affect. If not, the treatment is stopped but, if it is working, further cycles of the drug will be recommended providing funding can be procured.
If funding for the drug can be found, Jennifer would continue to be Dr MacDonald’s patient and he would supervise and carry out all treatment.
There is, therefore, a requirement, if Jennifer is to benefit from this treatment, for an initial £3,500 to pay for it, with the likelihood, if all goes well, of a further £23,500 to complete the first year’s course.
Jennifer like her father and uncles is a stalwart of the regiment. She has done more for the regiment than any wife I know and if you visit her hotel in Aberchirder, you will find the bar looks like the Sergeants’ Mess. I believe the Queen’s Own Highlanders’ Regimental Association should spearhead a campaign to raise the money to pay for this treatment and suggest that the initial funding for this might be provided as follows:
Squair/Duffus family £500
Friends of Jennifer £500
Regimental Association Trust Funds £500
Seaforth Association Trust Fund £500
SSAFA £500
Army Benevolent Fund £1,000
Total £3,500
Follow up funding, if treatment proves to be successful, might be as follows:
Squair/Duffus family £500
Friends of Jennifer £3,000
Regimental Association Trust Funds £1,000
Seaforth Association Trust Fund £1,000
SSAFA £8,000
Army Benevolent Fund £10,000
Total £23,500
Nick Ridley
Chairman, Queen‘s Own Highlanders’ Regimental Association
ADDENDUM FROM:
David E Loftus
Secretary
Queen‘s Own Highlanders’ Regimental Association 19th July 2008
Ref: Jennifer Squair
This was discussed at the AGM of the Regimental Association in Nairn on the 18th July 2008, and received full backing of those present from the representatives of the various Branches of the Association.
It was felt we, as an Association, should encourage and invite individual members to contribute to the costs of Jennifer’s treatment. The figures quoted by the Chairman are unconfirmed but hoped as to what may be achieved. However if the Grants from SSAFA and the ABF are not achieved at the levels suggested there will be a greater need for support from the regimental family.
A general comment from the meeting was that following the recent, and close, deaths of David (Dykes) and Jocky Duffus the family has already had more than anyone would reasonable expect them to cope with so there was all the more reason to do all we, as the regimental family, can do to help Jennifer receive the treatment suggested.
Donations should be made payable to the Queen‘s Own Highlanders’ Regimental Association and sent to Major Frank Blincow MBE at RHQ Cameron Barracks, Inverness, IV2 3XD. It is preferable that cheques are sent as personal donations rather than being consolidated by Branches so that the additional benefit of Income Tax on donations can be re-claimed through the Gift Aid Scheme.
Note from Branch: We are enclosing a Gift Aid Form for anyone wishing to contribute to this appeal
RETURN - AGM
The cost of the buffet will be paid for from Branch funds but we still need to know numbers so please complete this form. If you cannot make the AGM and wish to renew your membership, please also complete this return
Name:
Address:
I will be attending the AGM (state how many if accompanied by family)
Numbers?
I am on the Internet and my email address for future contacts/newsletters is:
(please print clearly)
(If you are not attending the AGM)-
I wish to renew my annual membership and enclose a cheque/postal order for the sum of:
(£15.00 for the under 65’s and £10.00 for the over 65’s)
£……………….
(Please make your cheque out to QOHLDR Regtl Assn, Edinburgh Branch so it can be paid directly into the Branch Account and Not to Danny Carruthers)
Please return ASAP to: Danny Carruthers
Picterin Cottage
61A Grahamdyke Road
Bo’Ness
EH51 9DZ
Tel: 01506 829766 eanddcarruthers@hotmail.com
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RETURN – NORTHERN IRELAND TRIP 2009
I am seriously interested in attending the trip to Northern Ireland in 2009. You do not need to complete this if you do not intend to go (please tick so we can give the Northern Ireland Branch likely numbers. Please return as soon as possible
Self? Wife/Partner?
